Being a Mummy One Baby Step at a Time

Beauty: My Summer Beauty Essentials

Now that we’re in the throes of our British Summer I thought I’d put together a list of some of my favourite beauty products that I’ve been reaching for during the hotter months.

Ranging from make -up to beauty products here’s a list of all the things that I’ve been loving this Summer!

Garnier Moisture Bomb – Day and Night Cream – £5.33 each

As we move into a warmer season I’ve found that my skin seems to be drying out more, I’m not sure if it’s due to pregnancy hormones or simply because I’m in and out of the office sitting under the a/c but since discovering Garnier’s day and night cream I have to say my skin is look a lot more moisturised and healthy.
The day cream is lighter than the night cream and has a creamier texture to it, making it suitable to wear under makeup, whereas the night cream is more like a gel which seems a bit odd at first but once applied it quickly absorbs into the skin without leaving a greasy residue.

Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream – £27.00

I’m the type of person that rarely likes to leave my home without a little bit of makeup on, be it a lick of mascara or a bit of bronzer. On days when I’m simply running errands but not doing anything too exciting I like to use a somewhat lighter foundation, I’ve tried CC and BB creams but felt they were a bit too oily or simply didn’t last, after searching and searching I came across Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream, described as “the best of a CC, BB and a tinted moisturiser” this lightweight product provides a nice amount of coverage without overloading your skin as well as providing hydration and SPF protection.

Maybelline Dream Velvet Foundation – £7.00

I have recently switched my day foundation from the L’Oreal Infallible range to Maybelline’s Dream Velvet foundation, mainly because my skin seemed to be drying out and making my foundation look cakey, the L’Oreal Infallible foundation is still my go to foundation for a night out due to its lasting power but I felt it could be too heavy for my skin during the day. I didn’t expect the dream velvet foundation to fair well during the summer months due to the fact that it is a hydrating matte foundation but I was mistaken. The texture of the foundation has a somewhat mouse/gel feel to it so is pretty lightweight when applied on to your skin and considering I’m on and off the underground and sit under an a/c all day I have to say I was impressed with the staying power, y the end of the day my skin still has a matte look to it without that cakey effect.

Make Up Drop Silicone Applicator – £14.00

Yes I did it, I couldn’t resist I gave in and purchased a Silicone Makeup applicator by MakeupDrop for £14.00 from boots. I do like using a stipple brush when applying my foundation but I do feel like a lot of product gets wasted meaning my foundation runs out a lot quicker, again I prefer using a brush for an evening out mainly because I prefer the coverage and overall look but for during the day I don’t need my foundation to have such a made-up look. So going back to the silicone applicator craze, after watching a few youtube tutorials I got applying and I have to say I can see why people like using this type of applicator. The trick for an even coverage is to apply using circular or tapping motions and it definitely stays true to it’s statement of a little goes a long way, it really does. I also felt like it was a little more hygienic than using a brush or sponge because you can wash and dry it straight away, so if you’re someone who suffers from problematic skin this is the way to go. I would’ve liked it to be a little on the thinner side but it isn’t enough of a con to put me off of using it.

Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel – £32.00

I’ve been using Soleil Tan de Chanel for sometime now and I always have a spare in my make-up bag ready for when I run out. With it’s velvety texture, it’s a one colour suites all product. I mainly use this all over my face with a brush to give my skin a nice golden glow but it can also be used as a contour to give depth or even as an eyeshadow to give your lids a sunkissed look. If I’m going away this is definitely one product that’s coming with me, I love using it with a tan in place of a foundation. However you use it it’s definitely a must in any girls make-up bag

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow – £49.00

This is a product that was on my Christmas list as it’s a little on the pricey side but in my opinion worth it. Charlotte Tilbury’s Filmstar Bronze and Glow has two shades in the case one for contouring and one for highlighting, although you can use the contour colour as a bronzer if you like, I have this in the fair to medium shade and the medium to dark which I use when tanned as it has a peachy highlighter and darker contour colour, however I use the highlighter as a blusher! One thing I love about this product is the fact that it doea exactly what it says on the package, it’s easy to use and build up to get the look you want and it feels like an expensive guality makeup from the product itself to the packaging and lets face it we all love having beautiful things!

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector – £18.00

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Protector is another product I’ve purchased in two shades, it has a lovely gel like feel to it without the stickyness and a subtle coconut/shea smell to it which is perfect for summer. The colour isn’t too overwhelming simply adding a light touch of colour and shimmer to your lips all the while whilst repairing, nourishing and protecting them.

Lancome Hypnose Mascara in Noir – £24.50

One of my all time favourite mascaras is Lancômes Hypnose mascara in Noir. I can’t even tell you how long I’ve been using it for, I have tried other brands both cheap and expensive but can’t seem to find one lengthens and volumises like this one. The brush grabs onto every single lash lengthening, curling and volumising each one without making them look clumpy – it’s worth every penny!

Fake Bake 60 Minute Tan – £27.00

So I’ve become a little bit of a fake tan addict, I sometimes think that no matter how crappy you feel having a bit of a sun-kissed look will make you feel a whole lot better and healthier. I’ve pretty much been a loyal user of Fake Bakes range of tans starting off with their original self-tan lotion I loved that the colour guide makes it practically foolproof to apply evenly, since then I’ve discovered their Flawless Darker self-tan and their 60 Minute Tan and I love both. I tend to usually use the 60 minute self-tan because I’m not too keen on sleeping in my fake tan, so you simply apply, leave on for a max of 3 hours and wash off, I do find for my skin tone I need to reapply twice but to be fair it doesn’t bother me too much if I don’t. I reach out for the Flawless Darker if I want a deeper colour as this is one you sleep in, either way I haven’t found another fake tan that gives me the same natural colour along with how easy it is to use.

St Tropez Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion – £14.50

The St Tropez Gradual Tan in Shower Lotion is a new discovery that ties in with my whole looking a bit tanned makes you feel better frame of mind. I was intrigued to see if the whole in shower tan thing worked, so when this went on offer in Boots for roughly £9.00 I couldn’t resist, simply apply after using your body wash, wait for three minutes and rinse! I’ve used it for nearly a month now and I have to say it’s not bad as a top up to your fake tan regime, I don’t feel like it gives enough colour to use by itself as a stand alone tan but as a top up to keep your current fake tan looking good it works wonders. I wouldn’t necessarily pay £14.50 choosing instead to look for it on offer in Boots or online.

Jimmy Choo L’Eau – £63.00 90ml

I don’t usually treat myself to perfume but when we went away in May I decided to splurge on a nice summer scent, so after scouring through the duty free spraying an abundance of perfumes I settled on Jimmy Choo’s L’Eau

scent with its fresh and floral smell with musky undertones. I feel the lasting power could be a bit better but then considering how light of a scent it is it’s no surprise the smell doesn’t last all day, it’s still a perfect perfume for the spring/summer months.

So there you have it my 2017 favorite beauty essentials! What’s your favorite make-up/beauty products that you just can’t live out this summer, I’d love to hear any recommendations.

A little note – I have in no way been paid or approached by any of the companies mentioned above, I am simply sharing my thoughts on products that I have purchased and used myself!